Sungai Klah Hot Spring

Salam and hello everyone.Today I want to share about interesting visit in Perak.It is Sungai Klah Hot Spring.

Somewhere in Sungkai, there is a hot spring park that is a pleasant place to spend a couple of hours. The hot water comes out of the ground in several places and is a warm 60 degress Centigrade. It is reported that on some early mornings that it can reach 80 degrees Centigrade. The water is piped into some man-made pools to support a host of activities.
Steam rising up from the stream of natural hot water.

Steam rising up from the stream of natural hot water

A slight smell of sulphur in the air is evident when one is very near the water. The smell is not very noticeable however.

The water is hot enough to boil eggs, and a sieve is provide at a designated area in the park for visitors to boil the eggs. Walk right in to the end of the park, and you should be able to come across the egg designated area. You can bring your own eggs, or you can buy them in the park at a rate of three eggs for a ringgit. The way to do boil the eggs is to dip the eggs at the less hot areas of the pool first. This is to prevent the eggs cracking due to sudden expansion. After a minute of warming up, the eggs can be dipped into the hot spring source at the designated area. Leave them for a while. The water is hot enough to hard boil them.

Boiling eggs at a hot spring source.

A foot reflexology walk is provided somewhere near the egg boiling area. Here, hot water flows over the reflexology stone pebbles. Walking over the pebbles was a strange sensation as you not only feel the pain, you also feel warm at your feet. Nevertheless, we quite enjoy the walk over the pebbles.

The hot and wet reflexology stone pebble path.

There are some therapeutic pools available where visitors can go and soak their feet. One park worker told us of a teacher who had walking problems and came to the hot springs and soaked his feet. He did this for three days after which he did not have to use his walking stick. I think the healing must have been caused by the water warming his joints. I had pain in my fingers from using the keyboard and mouse too often. I dipped them into the water and the pain was gone. Two hours later the pain came back. I guess the relief was only temporary. Maybe I ought to do that more often.

The man-made therapeutic pool with hot spring water.

There is also a huge swimming pool with warm water at the park. The water in this pool is not that hot and is therefore suitable for swimming. Kids seem to enjoy themselves in this pool. However, I would strongly advise against going into this pool. Microorganisms can flourish in the water as it is not chlorinated, unlike normal swimming pools. I have heard stories of people getting ear infections from swimming in hot spring pools. The temperature of the water is not very hot and is conducive to multiplication of bacteria. If it is any hotter, people will not be able to swim in it. Unlike the smaller therapeutic pools, the water in the large pool cannot be described as flowing. Any bacteria in the pool will remain in the pool and multiply.

Swimming in this pool is not advisable for health reasons.

Getting there

Take the Plus North South highway, and get out at the Sungkai toll plaza. Driving out from the toll plaza, you should be able to come to a T-junction. Take the left turn towards Trolak. After driving about 500m from the T-junction, you should come across a turnoff on your left. Be very alert as this turnoff is very sharp and difficult to spot if you are travelling too fast. There is a school at this turnoff called the Sekolah Menengah Sg Kruit. Once you are in the turnoff, there are many signboards that will lead you to the place. The park is a fair distance in(about 15 km) and the road is narrow in some places. This road is okay for travelling but some parts are dangerous. At some stretches, the sides of the road have been eroded so if you go off the road, you may need a tractor to pull you back up. Luckily, few cars travel this stretch, but if you see an oncoming car, it is advisable to brake first and think later. At the last stretch, you will need to turn right uphill a bit and the road is only wide enough for one car to pass at some places. And if it is raining,be very, very careful.

Opening hours

The park is opened from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The entrance fee is 4 ringgit per adult during the promotion period. Parking is free and the car park is very spacious. As you turn into the huge carpark, you should be able to see the ticket sales office.